Solved U7 Outbound Caller ID - what does it do?

[jakthree]

Hi,
3CX v16.0.6.655 Pro Annual. On-premise Linux ISO on dedicated hardware (not VM)
Before I update to U7, I have a question about Outbound caller ID in Outbound Rule and per Route.

I don't use a SIP provider. My trunk is Grandstream GXW410x FXO gateway. I have four PSTN copper lines. Each copper line has it's own phone number. In my example
Port 1: 1112223333 (this is the primary phone number)
Port 2: 1112224444
Port 3: 1112225555
Port 4: 1112226666
The GXW is setup round-robin so when 3CX wants to dial out then the GXW picks up the next available port. The 3CX caller does not know which copper line the GXW picks up.

An outbound call on port 1, the recipient sees 1112223333 on their caller ID.
An outbound call on port 2, the recipient sees 1112224444 on their caller ID.
An outbound call on port 3, the recipient sees 1112225555 on their caller ID.
An outbound call on port 4, the recipient sees 1112226666 on their caller ID.

This is not a problem unless
a. the recipient actually looks at the caller ID and thinks 'I don't know that number so I'm not going to answer'
b. the recipient misses the call and then calls back on the caller ID number and the 3CX receptionist asks 'why did you call us on that number?'

If I enter my primary phone number into the new Outbound caller ID field, then when a call goes out ports 2,3,4 of the GXW. What caller ID will the recipient see?
Is this the purpose to the Outbound caller ID field?
Does the Outbound caller ID only work with SIP providers?

Actually I have two GXW410x FXO gateways. The first has four PSTN lines (as described above) and the second has two PSTN lines. The Outbound rule route-1 is to GXW-1 and if all four lines are busy the route-2 to GXW-2 is picked up. I see that there is one Outbound caller ID in Outbound Rule and per Route. If I enter my primary phone number for the route then will that make all 6 lines have same caller ID regardless of which GXW port is picked up?

Thank you,

 

[Evolute IT]

If you use PSTN, this probably won't apply to you. It works for SIP trunks where you have many DIDs and users need to be able to use different Caller IDs depending on the route they choose (via prefix, groups or any other ways supported in Outbound Rules.)

 

[leejor]

If you are using PSTN lines, you can either split your gateway, and 3CX, into individual trunks, so as to force outbound calls out on certain numbers, which is still probably going to cause issues, or....
you could ask your provider about having a common (primary) outbound number assigned to several "real" phone numbers, either as a hunt group, or not. You have no control (you can't change) over what number is sent, when calling out on PSTN lines. All you can choose is the line itself, if setup that way.

 

[JohnS_3CX]

The outbound caller ID is meant for SIP lines. You have analog PSTN lines so it does not really apply to you.

 

[jakthree]

Frederick Marcoux, leejor, JohnS_3CX,

Thank you all for your detailed replies.
I got excited about the possibility but understand now that Outbound Caller ID does not apply to PSTN lines.
You can mark this thread as solved.